Minn Postgame: Game Notes

Rob Howe

11/21/2009

Achievements, tidbits from Iowa's 12-0 victory against Minnesota on Saturday.

-Iowa won today's game 12-0 over Minnesota. The Hawkeyes finished the regular season with a 10-2 overall record and 6-2 league mark. The Hawkeyes posted double-figure wins for the fourth time under Head Coach Kirk Ferentz, including the third time in regular season. Additionally, Iowa has posted six league wins for third time under Ferentz. Iowa guaranteed itself at least a share of second place in the Big Ten. Penn State and Wisconsin play road games later today. Iowa will now wait and see where it will go for its bowl destination.

-Iowa has posted consecutive shutouts over Minnesota for the first time since 1955 (26-0) and 1956 (7-0). Today is Iowa's first shutout since blanking the Golden Gophers 55-0 win at Minnesota last season.

-Minnesota scored six points in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter of 21-16 loss at Iowa in 2007. The Gophers did not score in eight straight periods against Iowa, as the Hawkeyes won 55-0 last season at Minnesota.

-Minnesota now leads the all-time series 59-42-2. Iowa has won eight of the last nine games against the Gophers. With Floyd on the line, Minnesota leads 39-34-2. Iowa has won the Floyd of Rosedale trophy for the third straight season. Iowa has won seven straight trophy games overall. The Hawkeyes are in possession of all three traveling trophies this season (Iowa State – Cy-Hawk; Wisconsin – Heartland; Minnesota – Floyd of Rosedale).

-Iowa entered the game as one of the least penalized teams in the nation. Iowa had just three penalties for 28 yards against the Gophers today.

-Iowa's defense held Minnesota scoreless, 201 yards total offense, including 48 yards on the ground. The 201 total yards and 48 yards rushing are season lows for an Iowa opponent this season.

-There were more combined punts in today's game than points. There were 17 combined punts, while Iowa put up the only points on the scoreboard – 12. Iowa's Ryan Donahue punted nine times for 339 yards (37.7 avg.). He kicked a long punt of 51 yards and had one downed inside the 20.

-Minnesota was 2-5 on fourth down attempts today, including failing to score after having a first and goal at the Iowa two-yard line in the fourth period. Prior to today Iowa's opponents were 6-9 on fourth down conversions.

-Iowa won the toss and elected to receive. Iowa has started on offense in 112 of its last 129 contests. The Hawkeyes have started the game on offense in 114-of-135 games under Ferentz. Iowa games vs. Ohio State (11/14/07), Indiana (10/31/09), Purdue (11/15/08), Penn State (11/08/08), Wisconsin (10/10/08), Minnesota (11/10/07), at Northwestern (11/3/07), vs. Michigan State (10/27/07), at Penn State (10/6/07), vs. Iowa State (9/16/06), vs. Minnesota (11/19/05), vs. Michigan (10/22/05), at Purdue (10/8/05), at Minnesota (11/13/04), vs. Purdue (11/6/04), at Miami, OH (9/7/02) and at Michigan State (9/27/03) are the only contests that the Hawkeyes didn't start on offense. Iowa won 13 of the 17 games.

-Iowa scored a field goal on its first possession, scoring on its initial drive for the fourth time in 12 games. Iowa scored a touchdown on its opening drive vs. Arizona and Arkansas State, and a field goal on its opening drive vs. Northern Iowa. Iowa did not score on its opening drives at Iowa State, at Penn State, vs. Michigan, at Wisconsin, at Michigan State, vs. Indiana and at Ohio State

-Minnesota did not score on its opening possession. Iowa has allowed just two opponents (Indiana, game nine, and Penn State, game four) to score on their opening drive in its last 25 games.

-Senior LB Pat Angerer recorded 10 or more tackles for the fourth straight game and for the eighth time in 12 games. He led Iowa vs. Minnesota with 16 tackles, one shy of a career high. Angerer ranks first in the Big Ten in tackles per game, in league games only. He is one of five finalists for the Nagurski Award as the top defensive player in the nation. He is tied with Merton Hanks for 27th in career tackles at Iowa with 248.

-Iowa has scored the first points in seven of 12 games. The opponent scored first in all four road games before Iowa opened the scoring at Ohio State with a field goal. Iowa State, Wisconsin and Michigan State opened with a field goal and Penn State opened with a touchdown. Iowa scored 35 straight points at Iowa State, 21 at Penn State and 20 at Wisconsin.

-Iowa was 2-2 in the red zone against Minnesota, collecting a field goal in the first period and a rushing touchdown in the second. Iowa has scored on 61 of the last 66 red zone possessions (38 TDs and 23 FGs), dating back to the Michigan State game in 2008. Iowa is 42-47 combined inside the red zone its last 15 games.

-Minnesota was 0-2 in the red zone. Iowa opponents are 23-28 in the red zone this season, with 10 FGs and 13 touchdowns.

-Iowa scored six points after collecting three turnovers (two fumbles, one interception) in the second period. Iowa has at least one turnover in 10-of-12 games this year, with no turnovers vs. Michigan State and Ohio State. The Hawkeye defense has collected at least one takeaway in 43 of its last 47 games, dating back to 2006. Iowa entered the Minnesota game tied for second in the nation with 19 interceptions. Iowa has scored 87 points (11 TDs, four FGs) following 30 opponent turnovers (20 interceptions, nine fumbles, one blocked punt).

-Minnesota did not score following a second period interception and a fourth period fumble recovery. Iowa opponents have scored 54 points following 26 Iowa turnovers (19 interceptions, seven fumbles). Michigan, Arkansas State and Arizona returned interceptions for touchdowns and Northern Iowa scored field goals following two Iowa fumbles. Penn State scored three points following an interception. Indiana scored a touchdown after recovering a fumble on an Iowa punt return and added a field goal following a third period interception. Northwestern recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown and OSU scored a rushing touchdown after a fourth period interception.

-QB James Vandenberg started his second consecutive game for the injured Ricky Stanzi. Vandenberg completed 11-24 passes for 117 yards and had an interception.

-Junior LB Troy Johnson started for the first time in his career, as linebackers Jeremiha Hunter and Jeff Tarpinian did not play. OL Dace Richardson missed his fourth straight game and QB Ricky Stanzi missed his second straight game.

-Johnson forced a Minnesota fumble and recovered the loose ball in the second period. Johnson had a forced fumble as a freshman in a loss at Indiana. Johnson finished the contest with a career-high 10 tackles. His previous personal-high of three tackles came earlier this season in a win over Michigan.

-Sophomore LB Bruce Davis had the second fumble recovery of his career to stop a Minnesota drive in the red zone in the second period. Davis had a forced fumble earlier this season in a win over Northern Iowa and recovered a fumble in the win over Penn State last season. Davis finished the contest with one tackle and a fumble recovery.

-Senior OLB A.J. Edds had his fourth interception of the season in the second period. Edds now has six career interceptions and his theft today led to an Iowa touchdown drive of 39 yards in the second period. His theft marked the third turnover of the game collected by Iowa's linebackers, as Bruce Davis and Troy Johnson each had a fumble recovery.

-Minnesota blocked Iowa's PAT attempt in the second period marked Iowa's first missed PAT of the season. Iowa PK Daniel Murray had made 43 straight PAT kicks before the block.

-Adam Robinson led Iowa's rushing game with 12 carries for 72 yards before leaving the game late in the second period. Robinson leads Iowa's rushing attack for the season with (167-775 yards). His yardage is the most ever for an Iowa freshman. The previous mark of 679 yards was held by Ladell Betts (1998).

-Iowa freshman RB Brandon Wegher scored his seventh rushing touchdown of the season in the second period. The seven touchdowns ties Iowa's record for a freshman, which was set last season by Jewel Hampton.

-Only three receivers caught passes today. WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos led Iowa receivers with seven catches for 63 yards. He now ranks eighth in career receptions (123) and 11th in receiving yards (1,798). Trey Stross had three catches for 26 yards and Marvin McNutt had one for 28 yards.

-Instant replay was used in the fourth period. A Minnesota pass was ruled incomplete. The call on the field was upheld.

-Today was another sell out at Kinnick Stadium (70,585). Iowa sold out six out its seven home games this season.